French trainer Thomas Fourcy has been in unstoppable form with his Arabian racehorses and his Hadi De Carrere (FR) won the world’s most valuable race for the breed, the US $2,000,000 The Obaiya Arabian Classic presented by Lexus, a Group 2PA.
Ridden by Olivier Peslier, Hadi De Carrere enjoyed a smooth passage on the rail just behind the leader RB Rich Lyke Me (USA), who set a strong pace in front. Entering the home straight, RB Rich Lyke Me was still going well, but the locally-trained Tilal Al Khalediah (KSA) was closing on his outside. Peslier moved Hadi De Carrere into a position to challenge and, with 50m to go, the three of them were in a line across the track.
In a thrilling finish for the crowds, Hadi De Carrere gained the advantage, winning by just a nose from Tilal Al Khalediah, to give Fourcy and owner Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari another notable victory. Exactly seven days ago Fourcy had trained the winner of The HH The Amir Sword, Qatar’s premier race for Arabians, Lady Princess, also for Al Kuwari. He clocked a time of 2:16.20.
Hadi De Carrere had been the leading European three-year-old of 2020, winning France’s two most important Group 1 races for that age group in the Al Rayyan Cup (Prix Kesberoy) and the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains. However, the colt was off the course for 10 months before reappearing in Pau in January, finishing fifth on his all-weather debut. This win heralded a return to form and is a testament to Fourcy’s abilities as a premier trainer of Arabians.
Quotes:
Olivier Peslier, jockey, Hadi De Carrere, 1st: “My horse honestly had a one-year break and had to come back and finished fifth [last time out]. I wanted to ride the horse in Saudi Arabia because when I rode him last time I thought he was very nice and loved him. The form is good from [more than] one year ago [before the break], but it’s very hard to come back with him.
“I know he’s a strong horse, but he just gallops, so I was thinking about the win and kept fighting and fighting. When we passed the winning post, I didn’t [know if I had won], but then I turned and looked for the screen and it was my face! So that’s good for me! When you win like that, the pressure comes down.
“It’s great to win [in Saudi Arabia]. The year is very hard, so I will go relax in Mauritius soon, but I wanted a win [before]. My last five rides, I kept finishing second, second, second, but I thought, ‘Wait a second, the win is coming soon’ and to win this one, I’m very happy.”
Thomas Fourcy, trainer, Hadi De Carrere, “We are super happy. We had a few problems with him last winter in Qatar, and we left him in peace before giving him a nice and easy run in a race at Pau so that he would come here fresh and keen.
“He was very good at three in heavy ground and I wasn’t worried about the track. He is a good mover and he goes for it.
“He showed a lot of courage and was very tough. And it was another magical ride by Oliver [Peslier], who is just cool and patient and knows when to push the button. We will go to Dubai for the Kahayla Classic.”
Adrie De Vries, jockey, RB Rich Lyke Me, 3rd: “I was very happy with him. We knew before that we weren’t going to get it easy in front and there was a lot of pressure on. He’s got the natural speed and you don’t want to disappoint him by taking him back. He ran a very very good race, it’s a long old straight and it’s deeper than Meydan, so a totally different story but we are over the moon with him.”
Ioritz Mendizabal, jockey, Deryan, 4th: “I had a good race but my horse was pulling a lot, he didn’t relax and so he was a little bit tired for the finish. I got some cover but the pace wasn’t fast for me.”
Other jockey quotes:
Soufiane Saadi, jockey, Zalej Al Cham, 6th: “This was too hard for him. He didn’t like the pace, it was too fast a race for him. I don’t believe he’s at his best on the dirt. I think he’s better on the turf; his quality has gone down a bit.”
Bernardo Pinheiro, jockey, Harrab, 7th: “My horse came from the lower class. He is a very good horse, is improving and is a steady horse. A bit more distance could be better for him. He ran on the track for the first time and it was a bit of a tricky track and heavy. But so far we are happy with the result.”
Silvestre de Sousa, jockey, Nader Alkhalediah, 13th: “He was up on the pace – that was the plan – but he didn’t get home.”
Alexis Moreno, jockey, Prince Amer, 14th: “He found this level a bit tough.”